we are the dirt we dig—
but do not say that aloud
for these gravities pulling
may be misunderstood
she called us in the over
a field away, waving away
we set our nod to the
bending down, sifting
through soil for the bone
i am not sure
the course sold is
the course once told
so we shovel all-souls
to the barrow
all at the edge
we sometimes
threshold dance
in granite gloaming
as we tend our
acorn hearts
under them
big oak trees
flareups & burnouts needles & pins pin & needle that damned giant pounds & pounds a hammer down until there is no more left to feel
A poem prompted by a randomly selected Elder Futhark rune.
Today’s rune is thurisaz, which has several core translations: “thorn” or “giant”. The rune is often associated with pain or discomfort (often for an important transitional or transformative reason) or raw power that may be destructive. It is also considered protective, regenerative, and is frequently associated with women’s menstrual health.
Please visit my Elder Futhark pages at sceadugenga.com for additional interpretations of the runes based on multiple references and personal reflection.
windswept the fells hard sleet to snow set to drifts i wander, wonder of flames set to cold
A rune poem, based on an Elder Futhark rune selected at random.
Today’s rune is hagalaz, which has a core meaning of “hail”, which was associated with potential, transformation, renewal and change; hail is imagined a seed from which change will arise. Hagalaz is also seen as representative of things beyond our control: a clash between fire and ice.
Please visit my Elder Futhark pages at sceadugenga.com for additional interpretations of the runes based on multiple references and personal reflection.
some days raven
some days stone
find sinew, slip
blade bone between
and divisions
fall apart, only
standing watch
over water
what needs a name
needs a name
in the hand on the ear
and that lipbrushed fur
venus kissed, do tell
what needs a name
needs a name
in the hand on the ear
a cylinder in turning filling the empty nights with harvest hours small the spirits lean all shadow before reaping the dawn
A poem prompted by a randomly selected Elder Futhark rune.
Today’s rune is jera. Jera is translated as “year”, and has also been translated as “harvest”. This rune is representative of cycles, the “wheel of the year”, the union of opposites (implied by the summer half of the year ending, winter half of the year beginning), balance, as well as cause/effect relationships.
Please visit my Elder Futhark pages at sceadugenga.com for additional interpretations of the runes based on multiple references and personal reflection.
this mortal coil slipped between mists we will meet again within the otherside this knot lingers still
A rune poem, based on an Elder Futhark rune selected at random.
Today’s rune is eihwaz, it’s name meaning “yew”, is a rune of change and transformation. It represents the cycle of life/death/rebirth and is symbolic of the axis mundi (the world tree). The yew is envisioned as a path towards both the underworld and the heavenly realms. Eihwaz is frequently associated both with poison and protection as part of its perceived dual nature.
Please visit my Elder Futhark pages at sceadugenga.com for additional interpretations of the runes based on multiple references and personal reflection.
the words turn to blur
every voice fades
to white noise
dew wet trousers on
an early kneeling morn
chapped lips imagine
kisses in chill mists
dreams are made of
morns made like these—
the smell of apples
drifting in